Multiple flow control valve



Aug. 9, 1955 R. A. WHITLOCK, JR

MULTIPLE FLOW CONTROL VALVE WWI/W,

ATTYS.

INVENTOR. W 6L WW Original Filed Dec. 23,-l949 viii/2 y W United States Patent MULTIPLE FLOW CONTROL VALVE Continuation of application Serial No.

ber 23, 1949. This No. 367,151

9 Claims. (Cl. 137-628) 134,732, Decemapplication July 10, 1953, Serial This invention relates to a control valve for controlling multiple flows of fluid such as might be used, for example, in water treating apparatus and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a control valve of the above character that is small and compact, that is rugged, that is simple, that has a single external operating member, that is easy to install, that has a long service life and requires a minimum of maintenance and that is relatively inexpensive to produce.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a control valve of the above character having novel valve means movable to one control position in response to a pressure difierential in the control valve and movable to another control position under the influence of gravity when a pressure equilibrium is established in the control valve.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a control valve of the above character having a novel ejector so constructed as to permit of substantially greater flow therethrough in one direction than in the other.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a control valve embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the control valve;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the relation of the control valve components when no fluid is passing through the control valve and the manually manipulable valve means is in a closed position, the pressure responsive valve means is in one control position and the nozzle defines an injector;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the relation of the parts when the manual valve is open and the pres sure responsive valve means is in another control position and fluid is flowing through the injector;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 3 showing the nozzle in a position to permit the unrestricted flow of fluid, and

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig, 4.

This application is a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 134,732, filed December 23, 1949, entitled Multiple Flow Control Valve, now abandoned.

The invention is shown embodied in a control for controlling the cycles of operation of a fluid system such as water treatment apparatus, water filters and the like.

As best seen in Figs. 3 and 4 the control valve includes an elongated body or casing 11 having a central passageway divided into a plurality of chambers 13, 14 and 16, a drain port 17 adapted to be in communication with the chamber 13, an inlet port 18 in communication with the chamber 14, an outlet port 19 in communication with the chamber 16, a top port 21 in communication with the chamber 13, and a bottom port 22 in communication with the chamber 16, manually operable valve means 23 for controlling the flow of fluid between the chamber 13 2,714,897 Patented Aug. 9, 1955 and the drain port 17 and pressure responsive gravity operated valve means 24 for controlling the How of fluid between the chamber 14 and the chambers 13 and 16 in response to preselected conditions existing in the respective chambers. In the embodiment shown, the chamber 13 is disposed above and the chamber 16 is disposed below the chamber 14.

in this embodiment of the invention, a stem guide in sert 26 threadably received in the opening at the upper end of the central passageway in the body 11 and an insert 27 in the passageway, in spaced relation to the guide insert 26, together with a casing, define the chamber 13. To provide communication between the drain port 17 and the chamber 13, the inner end of the stem guide insert 26 is formed with an axially extending recess or passageway 28. The latter communicates with an annular chamber 29, formed by mating annular grooves 31 and 32 formed respectively on the body and insert, through apertures 33 formed in the insert. The chamber 29 is in communication with the drain port 17 as shown. A gasket 34 acting between the insert 26 and the body 11 prevents leakage of fluid from the chamber 29.

The manually operable valve means 23 is mounted on the upper end of the body 11 and includes a stem 36 extending through the recess 28 and an axially extending passageway 37 formed in the guide insert 26 and in communication with the recess 28. A valve element 38 is carried on the lower end of the plunger 36 within the chamber 13. The valve element 38 is shaped to abut against a valve seat comprising an O-ring 39 mounted in an annular groove 40 formed on the inner end of the guide insert and an annular rib 41 formed on the body. Preferably the sidewall of the groove defined by the insert 26 is inclined slightly toward the rib 41 to provide a locking means for securing the O-ring 39 in position. The O-ring 39, in addition to forming a valve seat, provides a sealing gasket between the insert and the body. A lever 42 is pivotally connected, intermediate its ends, to the outer end of the stem 36 as by a pin 43. One end of the lever 42 is pivotally supported on an upstanding bracket 45 on the body. The opposite end of the lever 42 projects outwardly from the opposite side of the body and carries a ball handle 46. It will be seen that by moving the handle 42 up and down seating and unseating movement of the valve member 33 may be effected. An O-ring 35 acting between the stem 36 and the insert 26 prevents leakage of fluid from the recess 28 along the stem 36.

The insert 27 having a central opening 49 is threaded into the passageway and defines a ported wall between the chambers 13 and 14. The aperture 49 flares outwardly in the direction of the chamber 14 to define a valve seat 50.

A ported insert 51 is threaded into the passageway in spaced relation to the insert 27 to form the chambers 14 and 16. An annular gasket 52 having a shoulder defining a valve seat 53 surrounds the port 56 of the insert 51 within the chamber 14 and is secured to the insert by a ferrule 54 threaded into the insert 51 and defining a central port 56 between the chambers.

A plunger 57 is disposed in the chamber 14 for movement between opposed vertical positions. As shown in Fig. 6 the plunger 57 has a hexagonal cross section and is of a length that is less than the distance between the inserts or walls 27 and 51. A generally domeshaped gasket 58 is attached to the upper end of the spindle 57 as by a screw 59 to define a valve element shaped to seat against the valve seat 56. The bottom 60 of the plunger is flattened and defines a valve element engageable with the valve seat 53. The plunger may be formed of any suitable material having characteristics such as to be responsive to a pressure differential between the chambers 14 and 13 to effect movement thereof to seat the valve element 58 against seat 50 and when the pressures in the chambers 16 and 14 are substantially equal the plunger will move to seat the valve element 60 on the seat 53 through the action of gravity. Brass has been found to be a suitable material.

An injector 61 is connected to the body and includes a sleeve 62 threaded into the port 22 and a movable or floating nozzle 63. A passageway extends axially through the sleeve that is relatively large adjacent the chamber 16 and tapers inwardly toward a central portion of the sleeve to form a conical bore 66. The central portion of the passageway is shaped to define a chamber 67. The passageway on the opposite end of the sleeve is shaped to include a restricted throat portion 68 and an outwardly flaring portion 69. The nozzle 63 is in the form of a frusto-conical shaped light weight member having a central passageway that has a relatively large opening at one end and tapers to a small orifice 72 at its opposite end and complemental to the bore 66 so that it seats freely into the bore as shown in Fig. 3 with the orifice 72 disposed in the chamber 67 and alined with the throat 68 so that when liquid is discharged through the orifice 72 into the throat 68 a low pressure area is created in the chamber 67. It Will be seen that when fluid flows inwardly through the throat 68 toward the chamber 16 the incoming fluid will lift the light weight nozzle upwardly away from the bore 66 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Pig. in which the nozzle 63 abuts against the insert 51 and the sidewalls of the nozzle are spaced from the walls defining the bore 66 to provide an annular passageway between the chamber 67 and the chamber 16 to permit an increased rate of flow limited only by the size of the throat 68. A port 77 is formed in the sleeve 61 intermediate its ends in communication with the chamber 67 For purposes of describing the operation of the control valve, assume that it is connected in a conventional base exchange water treating system such as disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 334,582, filed February 2, 1953. The drain port 17 is connected to the drain line, the inlet port 18 is connected to the raw water supply line, the outlet port 19 is connected to service, the top port 21 is connected to the top of the tank and the bottom port 22 is connected to the bottom of the treatment tank through the sleeve 61 of the ejector. The operation of the control valve may be best understood by referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 5. Fig. 3 shows the relation of the components of the control valve when no fluid is passing through the control valve. The lever 42 is in a horizontal position and the valve element 38 is seated against the seat 39. The valve element 60 is seated against the seat 53 and the valve element 58 is spaced from the seat 50.

When water is flowing in the service line, raw water flows into the control valve through the inlet port 18 to the chamber 14, through the passageway 49, to the chamber 13, through the top port 21 to the top of the treatment tank. The water flowing from the bottom of the tank passes through the passageway 68 in the sleeve 62 to the chamber'16 and to service through an outlet port 19. The nozzle 63, being movable in the direction of the flow of Water, is moved to the position shown in Fig. 5 so that water flows unimpeded through the annular passageway defined by the nozzle and the sidewalls of the bore 66, through the bottom port 22 to the chamber 16 and the outlet port 19.

When it is desired to regenerate the water treating system, the handle 46 is depressed to move the valve element 38 away from the seat 39. This places the drain port 17 in communication with the chamber 13, through the passageway 28, the apertures 33 and the chamber 29. As a result the pressure head in the chamber 14, which is in communication with the chamber 13, drops to a low value, since it is in communication with the atmosphere through the chamber 13 and the drain port. The pressure head in chamber 16 however remains substantially constant for a short interval after opening the drain port 17 so that a higher pressure exists in chamber 16 than in chamber 14. As a consequence the plunger 57 is urged vertically upwardly moving the valve element 58 into engagement with the valve seat 50 and moving the valve element 60 away from the valve seat 53. Water is thus directed to flow from chamber 14 through passageway 56 to the chamber 16 and through the bottom port 22 to the bottom of the tank. Due to the pressure loss through the nozzle, the pressure in chambers 16 and 14 remains somewhat above that in the chamber 13 so the plunger remains against the seat 50. The direction of flow of fluid is thus reversed which causes the nozzle 63 to be urged into the bore 66 to the position shown in Fig. 4. The water now discharges from the nozzle into the throat 68 causing regenerant to be drawn through the port 77 to mix with water passing through the nozzle and pass through the throat 68 and flared portion 69 to the bottom of the tank. From the top of the tank liquid passes to the top port 21, which is now an inlet port due to the reversal of flow in the system, and flows through the chamber 13 out through the drain port 17.

When the flow of regenerant through the port 77 is terminated, water continues to flow through the ejector to effect rinsing. The liquid continues to flow in this manner until the handle 46 is raised, moving the valve body as shown.

element 38 to its closed position. Under the aforegoing conditions, raw water is also supplied to the service port 19. Thus, continuous operation of the system is assured. When the valve 38 is closed the pressure head in chamber 13 builds up to a value equal to that in the chamber 14 and the plunger 57 moves downwardly in chamber 14, through the influence of gravity, with the result that the valve element 58 is unseated and the valve element 61 is seated as shown in Fig. 3. Thereafter the flow of water is 5 as originally described.

The aforegoing control valve has many advantages. For example, this valve is of simple construction so that it can be formed by simple manufacturing processes. While the body is shown herein as a single casting, it is to be understood that the valve means associated with the drain port may be a separate mechanism disposed in a conduit leading from the body 11. Also the injector 61 may be disposed in a conduit in communication with the bottom port 22 in lieu of being directly connected to the With this construction treated liquid flows to service in the normal operating position of the control valve and raw liquid flows to service when the exchange material in the tank is being regenerated or rinsed. Thus liquid flows to service for all operating positions of the central valve. Also with this valve there is a very small number of movable parts, consequently this construction requires a minimum of maintenance and service.

While various parts of the control valve, such as the ports, have been given specific names herein, it is to be understood that these names are for identification purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

I claim:

1. In a control valve, the combination of a body having a first chamber, a sleeve connected to said body having a passageway in communication with said first chamber, said passageway at the end of the sleeve adjacent the chamber being relatively wide and tapering to define a frusto-conical shaped recess, said passageway intermediate the ends of the sleeve shaped to define a second chamber and at the opposite end shaped to define a restricted throat and a flared portion, a reagent inlet passage communicating with said second chamber, a frusto-conical nozzle shaped to be received in said recess and said first chamber, said nozzle having a central passage having a large opening at one end and tapering to a small orifice at the opposite end, said nozzle being movable between a position in which it seats in said recess and said orifice is positioned in said second chamber to discharge into said throat portion to define an injector forldrawing reagent through said reagent inlet passage into said second chamber and thence through said throat and a position in which the nozzle is received in said first chamber and defines with the recess an annular passage.

2 in a control valve, the combination of a body having a plurality of ports adapted to be connected to a system and having a chamber, at least one of said ports being n communication with said chamber, a sleeve received In said port and having a passageway in communication with said chamber, said passageway at the end adjacent said chamber shaped to define a frusto-conical shaped recess and at the end away from said chamber defining a throat and a fiared portion, a reagent inlet passage in said sleeve communicating with said throat, a frusto-conical shaped nozzle member mounted loosely in said recess having a central passage with a large opening at one end and tapering to a small orifice at the opposite end, said nozzle member when liquid flows through said chamber in one direction moving into said recess to have the orifice discharge in said throat to define an injector for drawing reagent through said reagent inlet passage into said throat and thence through said throat, and said nozzle member when liquid flows through said throat in the opposite direction moving to a position in which the nozzle member is received in said chamber and defines with the frusto-conical recess an unrestricted passage for liquid.

3. In a control valve, the combination of a body having first, second and third chambers formed therein, means for effecting communication between the second chamber and the first chamber and between the second chamber and the third chamber, said body having an inlet port in communication with said second chamber and having drain and top ports in communication with the first chamher and having a bottom port and an outlet port in communication with the third chamber, means in said second chamber for alternately directing the flow of liquid from said second chamber to said first chamber and said third chamber, respectively, in response to a preselected pres sure condition in said chambers, and means associated with one of said chambers to define a nozzle when liquid flows in one direction through said one chamber and to define a relatively large passageway for the flow of fluid when liquid flows in the opposite direction through said chamber.

4. In a multiport control valve, the combination of a casing having an inlet port, a drain port, a top port, a bottom port and an outlet port, wall means in said casing disposed between said inlet port and said drain and top ports and between said inlet port and said bottom and outlet ports to define first, second and third chambers in communication respectively with the drain and top ports, the inlet port and the bottom and outlet ports, said wall means having aperture means to effect communication between the first and second chambers and between the second and third chambers, first and second valve seats encircling the aperture means and facing inwardly of the second chamber, a first valve element in said second chamber shaped to be moved into engagement with and away from the first valve seat to control the flow of liquid between the first and second chambers, a second valve element in said second chamber shaped to be moved into engagement with and away from the second valve seat to control the flow of liquid between the second and third chambers, a plunger disposed between said valve elements and supporting the latter, said plunger being responsive to a pressure diiferential between the second and third chambers to move the first valve element to a seated position and said second valve element away from a seated position and responsive when the pressure is substantially the same in the first and second chambers to move the sec- 6 ond valve element to its seated position and said first valve element away from a seated position through the effects of gravity, lever actuated valve means between the first chamber and the drain port movable from a closed position in which a pressure equilibrium is maintained in said chambers to an open position in which the pressure in said first chamber is reduced to effect said pressure differential, and means associated with one of said chambers to define a nozzle when liquid flows in one direction through said one chamber and to define a relatively large passageway for the how of liquid when liquid flows in the opposite direction through said chamber.

5. In a multiport control valve, the combination of a casing having an inlet port, a drain port, a top port, a bottom port and an .outlet port, wall means in said casing disposed between said inlet port and said drain and top ports and between said inlet port and said bottom and outlet ports to define first, second and third chambers in communication respectively with the drain and top ports, the inlet port and the bottom and outlet ports, said wall means having aperture means to effect communication between the first and. second chambers and between the second and third chambers, first and second valve seats encircling the aperture means and facing inwardly of the second chamber, a first valve element in said second chamber shaped to be moved into engagement with and away from the first valve seat to control the flow of liquid between the first and second chambers, a second valve element in said second chamber shaped to be moved into engagement with and away from the second valve seat to control the flow of liquid between the second and third chambers, a plunger disposed between said valve elements and supporting the latter, said plunger being responsive to a pressure difierential between the second and third chambers to move the first valve element to a seated position and said second valve element away from a seated position and responsive when the pressure is substantially the same in the first and second chambers to move the second valve element to its seated position and said first valve element away from a seated position through the efiects of gravity, valve means between the first chamber and the drain port movable from a closed position in which a pressure equilibrium is maintained in said chambers to an open position in which the pressure in said first chamber is reduced to effect said pressure differential, and means associated with one of said chambers to define a nozzle when liquid flows in one direction through said one chamber and to define a relatively large passageway for the flow of liquid when liquid flows in the opposite direction through said chamber.

6. A multiple port valve assembly for directing liquid selectively from an inlet to either of two outlets comprising a casing having an upper chamber, a middle chamber and a lower chamber, a pressure inlet port leading into said middle chamber, a top outlet port in open communication with the upper chamber, a lower outlet port in open communication with the lower chamber, spaced top and bottom chamber ports interconnecting the middle chamber with the upper chamber and with the lower chamber respectively, a valve member disposed in the middle chamber for movement into engagement selectively with either of said chamber ports to close the same and to direct the flow of incoming liquid from the inlet port selectively through the top chamber port and the top outlet port or through the bottom chamber port and the lower outlet port, said valve member having a density to gravitate through the liquid into seated position closing the bottom chamber port upon equalization of pressure in the middle and upper chambers to direct the liquid flow through the top outlet port, and valve means movable between opened and closed positions communicating with said upper chamber, said valve means when open having a passage area for the flow of liquid therethrough from said upper chamber which is greater than the area of said top chamber port for rapidly releasing the pressure on the liquid in the upper chamber to move the valve member upwardly in the middle chamber into seated position closing the top chamber port to thereby direct the flow of liquid through the lower outlet port.

7. A multiple port valve assembly for directing liquid selectively from an inlet to either of two outlets comprising a casing having an upper chamber, a middle chamber and a lower chamber, a pressure inlet port leading into the middle chamber, a top outlet port in open communication with the upper chamber, a lower outlet port in open communication with the lower chamber, spaced top and bottom chamber ports interconnecting the middle chamber with the upper chamber and with the lower chamber, respectively, an elongated valve member having a length slightly less than the spacing between said top and bottom chamber ports disposed in the middle chamber for movement into engagement selectively with either of said chamber ports to close the same and to direct the flow of incoming liquid from the inlet port selectively through the top chamber port and the top outlet port or through the bottom chamber port and the lower outlet port, said valve member having the side walls thereof spaced from the inner walls of said middle chamber to form a flow passage therebetween and having a density to gravitate through the liquid into seated position closing the bottom chamber port upon equalization of pressure in the middle and upper chambers to direct the liquid flow through the top outlet port, and a quick opening valve communicating with said upper chamber and having a passage area for the flow of liquid therethrough from said upper chamber which is greater than the area of said top chamber port for rapidly releasing the pressure on the liquid in the upper chamher to move the valve member upwardly in the middle chamber into seated position closing the top chamber port and thereby direct the flow of liquid from the inlet port through the lower outlet port.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said valve member has ribs on the periphery thereof.

9. In a control valve,'the combination of a body having first, second and third chambers formed therein, said body having a pressure inlet port in communication with said second chamber, having drain and top ports in communication with the first chamber and having a bottom port and an outlet port in communication with the third chamber, a top passage for effecting communication between the second chamber and the first chamber, a bottom passage of lesser cross-sectional area than either said top passage or said inlet port for effecting communication between the second chamber and the third chamber, valve means in the second chamber for alternately directing the flow of liquid from said second chamber through the top passage to said first chamber and through the bottom passage to said third chamber, respectively, in response to a preselected pressure condition in said chambers, and means associated with said third chamber in communication with said bottom port to define a nozzle when liquid flows in one direction through said third chamber and to define a relatively large passageway for the flow of liquid when liquid flows in the opposite direction through said third chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 465,766 Roberts Dec. 22, 1891 916,114 Davis Mar. 23, 1909 2,206,957 Hose July 9, 1940 

